Flowers in antiques: why our lives would be dull without them
Posted by Chris on 02/05/2024
Chelsea Flower Show is nearly upon us, so what better time to take a look at the relationship between antiques and flowers?
Antiques.co.uk Founder Iain Brunt explores why flowers have been an integral part of many styles of antique design throughout the ages – and why life would be so much less fun without them.
The fabulous history of flowers
Spring has finally arrived and so have the fabulous scents and flowers around the world.
Flowers have been the backbone of many antique designs since the early Egyptian times. Ancient Egyptians were fascinated by the beauty of flowers, and like us, they decorated their homes with sweet smelling flowers in bowls and vases, believing they possessed sacred and symbolic qualities.
Above: as far back as Ancient Egypt, humans have always adored, and revered, flowers.
Throughout the centuries we see the many and various different interpretations of floral art, floral antiques and floral jewellery.
In the Medieval era, roses, lilies, iris, violet, fennel, sage, rosemary, and many other aromatic herbs and flowers were prized for their beauty and fragrance, as well as their culinary and medicinal value. They were as much at home in the medieval pleasure garden as in the kitchen or physic garden.
Why are we so obsessed with flowers?
Above: Botanical Study, ca 1900, Watercolour. Price: £30 / $37
It's been suggested that we love colourful flowers today because it’s always been beneficial to love them. Our ancestors who inhabited areas rich with flowers began to cultivate them, were more likely to live longer, breed more successfully and be healthier.
We come from nature and in the past we were at very much at home in the forest, surrounded by simple, symmetrical patterns, and interspersed with food – signalling flowers and fruit. We love flowers because they reflect all of these things. They reflect the Garden of Eden.
This might explain why flowers have been so important to human design for literally thousands of years.
Here are a few great examples of floral antiques throughout the ages - all listed with us on www.antiques.co.uk:
Pictured: Louis XV Style Floral Marquetry Bureau En Pente. Price: £14,000 / $17,540
Floral antiques through the ages
In the 18th century and earlier, floral marquetry furniture was appearing, such as this Dutch Burr Bureau.
As we head into the 19th century, we see many different designs of floral furniture, like this lovely Marquetry Vitrine Table.
If you’re looking for something very collectible, Royal Doulton ware jumped onto floral designs in a big way – see this Lambeth Stoneware Jug for example:
Outside of the British Isles, you need look no further than Italy, who became a master in floral pottery and Majolica. This Encrusted Ewer is a fine example, as is this very cute Majolica tea set.
And even further afield, to the Far East, we cannot forget Famille Rose – this jar is a nice example.
Continuing floral design into the mid 20th century, artists kept on creating and developing flower motfs in antiques – such as these amazing floral lighting fixtures:
We also see flowers in some rather flamboyant floral jewellery, like the 1988 gemstone vase ring, and a beautiful Victorian botanical diamond ring:
Pictured: The Vintage 1988 Gemstone Flamboyant Vase Ring. Price: £729 / $915
The most important of them all?
In my opinion, the most famous - and arguably important - of them all is floral art.
Without these magnificent plants in our lives, many artists would never have learned how to paint! Can you even start to imagine a life without them: no bouquets, or presents for our loved ones and families.
Personally I've always adored botanical studies, such as this watercolour of English Wildflowers, another botanical study of wild thistles by F. Hannen, and this watercolour of a very fabulous, exotic looking specimen.
Pictured: Botanical Study, ca 1900, Watercolour. Price: £40 / $50
What would life be like without them?
To end my personal view: without flora and fauna depicted in our antique treasures, our world would be very dull.
We hope you enjoy this year’s Chelsea Flower Show in London.
Iain
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